Apparatus for automatically receiving and delivering mail-bags.



No. 678,558. Patented July l6, 19m.

8. J. GRAHAM. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL BAGS. (Application filed July 23, 1900.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet'l.

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Patented Iuly l6, I90l.

s. J-. GRAHAM. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVING AND DELIVERING WIAIL BAGS.

(Apnlicatnn filed July 23, 1900.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 678,558. Patented July l6, I901.

S. J. GRAHAM. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL BAGS.

(Application filed July 23, 1900. (No Model.) 7

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'(Application filed July 28, 1900.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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Patented July I6, I90l." s. .l. GRAHAM.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL BAGS. (Application filed Jul 23, 1900. (No Model.)

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Patented lulv l6, IQUL. S. J. GRAHAM. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL BAGS.

(Application filed July 23, 1900. (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet G.

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rI STATES Parnur Unmet.

SIDNEY J. GRAHAM, or OAKLAND, KENTUCKY.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL-BAGS.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,558, dated July 16, 1901. Application filed 23, 1960.5 Serial No. 24,525. (No model.)

To all whom/it may concern: r 1 Be it known that I, SIDNEY J. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Oakland, county of Warren, and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Receiving and Delivering Mail-Bags, of which the following,when taken in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, is a full and complete description sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to which it pertains to understand, make, and use the same.

This invention relates to the class of apparatus having two partsone stationed adj'acent to the tracks of the railway and one mounted on a car movable on the tracks-rand designed to operate and-obtain a transfer of a mail-bag from one to the other of such parts as the car moving along the track passes the stationary part of the apparatus; and one object of this invention is to obtain an apparatus by means of which a mail-bag can be taken onto a car moving at a rate of speed, say, exceeding ten miles an hour and not ex ceeding seventy, and at the same time a mailbag can be delivered from such car without injury thereto and without injury to a person in the car or on the ground or'platform near the tracks.

A further object of this invention is to obtain an apparatus of the kind named which will be positive in its action, not liable to be broken, easily repaired and maintainedin operative condition, durable, and of reasonable cost.

In the drawings referred to, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one end of acar with a door thereof open, a portion of the apparatus embodying this invention mounted therein with a mail-bag thereon, such figure also showing an elevation of the upper end of the stationary portion of the apparatus in position to re-' ceive thereon a mail-bag from the car and having a mai1-bag.thereon in position to be,

the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the part of the apparatus which is mounted in the car with the movable parts having the mail-bag thereon and in position to be run out of the car-door for transfer of such mailbag to the stationary part of the apparatus and for receiving a mail-bag from such stationary part. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the part of the apparatus mounted in the car, and Fig. 5 is a top plan view of such part of the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the shaft shown in Fig. 5 on which the maiLbag which is transferred to the moving. car is received. Fig. 7 is a top plan View of the stationary portion of the apparatus, and Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the operative mechanism of such stationary part. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the upper end of the post of the stationary part of the apparatus, showing the manner in which the main shaft and springthereof are mounted. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 illustrate the preferred construction of the operative mechanisms of the stationary part of the apparatus, Fig. 10 being a rear elevation thereof viewed from the same position as in Fig. 8; Fig. 11, a horizontal sectional view on line 11 11 of Fig. 10 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing'a top plan view of the mail-bag holder hereinafter described, and Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the bottom arm of such mail-bag holder. Fig. 13 is a detail view of one end of the shaft which is partially illustrated in Fig. 6.

A reference-letter applied to indicate a given part is used to designate such part throughout the several figures of the drawings wherever the same appears.

A is a car having a side door, as a, on both sides thereof. I

G is the portion of the apparatus embodying this invention which is mounted in car A and comprises frame 0, pivotally mounted, as at O 0 in the car, runways 0 O movable frame 0 in the runways, and means for moving and controlling the position of the frame 0 in runways C C, as, say, the handle O on rotatable shaft 0 with pinions G secured to such shaft to turn therewith and to intermesh with geared rack (3 and the part D, mounted on movable frame Part by that is, beyondthe stationary part of D is the frame on which are mounted the mail-delivering and mail-receiving shafts or arms at d and the several movable mechanisms connected to such shafts.

d (see Figs. 3, 4, and 5) is a crank-arm at the rear end of shaft d, and d isa mail-bag holder on the forward end of such shaft or farm d. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 5.)

d Figs. 4 and 5, is a crank on the rear end of shaft 61, and d is a receiving-hook'on the forward end of such shaft 01.

d is a mail bag holder provided with notches d d, pivotally attached, as by pin or bolt d to shaft 61. (See Figs. 1 and 5.)

d is a spring attached, preferably, by means of frame d d to the crank-arms d d (See Fig. 4.)

To place a mail-bag for transfer from one partof the apparatus to the other, such mailbag is first secured to a wire ring of, say, twenty inches in diameter, and such ring is in contact with the apparatus.

E is a mail-bag.

F is a wire ring to which the mail-bag E is secured.

In the part of the apparatus mounted in a car the ring F is held in place by being placed between mail-bag holders d on shaft 01 and d on shaft 61. (See Fig. 1.) Before putting ring F in place, as last above described, shaft d is locked by mechanisms about to be described, so that the receiving-hook d is pointed forward in substantially a horizontal plane. See Figs. 1 and 5.) The ring is then placed in notches d d in mail-bag holder d? and shaft cl is turned so that mail-bag holder d is to the rear of the shaft and over holder (i Holder d is yieldingly held down on the top of the ring F by the spring d (See Figs. 1 and 3.) To hold the shaft (1 in position against the resiliency of spring d ,,so that the receiving hook d is in substantially a horizontal plane, I provide bar d, (see Fig. 6,) attached to shaft d to turn therewith, and ribs d d and spring 61 (See Figs. 5 and 6.) The shaft 01 has a small longitudinal movement in its bearings in frame D and is yieldingly held by spring d when parallel to the side bars of frame 0 0 so that the bar (Z is between ribs 61- 01 Frame D is so constructed and attached to frame 0 that shafts d (1 may be turned to or from the side bars thereof.

On the part of the apparatus mounted in a car the ring F is held by being placed between mail-bag holders d and d, with the ring in notches d d on .holder (:1 and in one of the grooves 61 Figs. 1 and-2, on holder 61 The crank-arms d and (Z on shafts d cl are used with spring 61 connected thereto, as hereinbefore described, to provide for the movement of the car A in either direction when passing the stationary portion of the apparatus and to yieldingly hold holder (1 pressed down on ring F.

By inspection of Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 it will be readily seen that shaft d may at any-time be turned one-half over from the position thereof illustrated in such figures, so that the crank d and holder d will be on the other side of the shaft from that shown and that shaft dl may be turned in like manner, so that the notches d in holder d will come under the groove d in holder d As the car moves by the stationary part of the apparatus the mail-bag attached, as described, to the part of such apparatus mounted in the car is carried onto the mail-bag-receiving hook or arm G on the stationary part of the apparatus and is prevented by such hook or arm (see Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, and 11) from further movement along with the car, and is therefore by such receiving hook or arm drawn out of its position between the holders d and d It is evident, therefore, that when the car is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow H in Figs. 1 and 2 holders d and d must be turned into the position thereof illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4., and 5 and that if the car were to move by the stationary part G of the apparatus in the opposite direction holders d and (Z would be turned overinto the position hereinbefore described-that is, shafts d and d would be turned one-half round.

As the mail-bag held as described in the part of the apparatus mounted in the car is taken therefrom the mail-bag attached to the stationary part of the apparatus by the ring to which it is secured, as will be hereinafter described, is engaged by the mailbag-receiving hook or arm d It is intended by me to have the shock occasioned by the transfer of the mail-bag, as last above described, received by springs interposed between theframe D and the frame 0 and at the same time have the bar al taken from between the ribs (Z 61 so that the shaft d will be turned, as by spring 01 (see Fig. 4,) in the position illustrated by Fig. 2that is, with the receiving arm in a substantially vertical position.

I I, Fig. 5, are springs mounted on frame D, with one end thereof abutting against the frame D and the other end against projection or lug 1, extending out from the frame 0".

I is a cross-bar in frame D, having enlarged ends I 1 which enlarged ends are yieldingly held by springs I I against the projection I. When moved by the shock of the transferof the mail-bagin a horizontal plane, frame D turns on one of the enlarged ends G C and one or the other of the springs I is compressed to bring frame D back to its initial position as soon as such shock is over.

J is a frame attached at the ends thereof, as at J J, to the frame C by passing such ends through slots J J .(See Fig. 5.) The L and at the other end to the post 0, and Z" projections (Won the shaft at extending into the slot J of the sleeve j. Movement of the collar J 3 backward against the spring (1 compresses such spring and moves the shaft d longitudinally by projections (Z coming in contact with the end of the slot J It will be observed that as frame D (see Fig. 5) ismoved to the right or left it turns on the right or left one of the bearings I 1 that is, when turned to the rightthe spring I on the lefthand side of frame D is compressed and when turned to the left the spring I on the righthand side of such frame is compressed, while frame J when turned to the right turns on the left-hand side thereof, the right-hand side moving in slot J and when turned to the left the pivot thereof is on the right-hand side, while the left-hand side moves in slot J on such left-hand side,and hence as the frame D is moved to the right or to the left at the outer end thereof spring at is compressed, sleeve J is moved backward, and shaft 61 is moved longitudinally in frame D. Such 1ongitudinal movement of shaft cl moves bar 01 which is firmly attached thereto, and it is moved out from engagement with ribs (Z c1 If the hook (Z on the outer end of such shaft d is in a horizontal plane at the time of disengagement, as last above described, of bar (Z and ribs 61 (Z such shaft cl will be turned one-fourth around by spring (1 attached to crank 61 thereon, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) and the hook or lug (1 will be turned in substantially a vertical plane, as is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. By the returnpf frame D into the position illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings frame .T permits the shaft cl to be moved longitudinally by spring (Z so that the bar 61 may again engage with c1 when hook or arm d is turned either to the right or to the left (from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings) into a horizontal plane and maintain it in such horizontal plane. i

The side bars of frame C O are joined together at the end thereof by tie-rods C (see Fig. 5) and 0 (See Figs. 1, 2,. and 5.)

The crank-shaft O is turned by handle 0 when the apparatus is to be used and the mail-bag holders are to be run out of the cardoor from operation, as hereinbefore described and again after such operation when the mail-bag on the rcceiving-hook is to be drawn back into the car.

The apparatus is turned on the pivot 0 0 when the mail-bag holders are to be used on the opposite side of the car A.

L (see Figs. 1, 3, and 4) is a catch or look on post 0, arranged to yieldingly engage with the floor of the car and hold the part of the apparatus mounted in the car in a given position.

Z is a spring attached at one end of thelock is a bar on catch L in convenient position for the foot to be placed thereon to disengage such lever at end Z thereof from the floor of the car.

The part of the apparatus mounted on post M (see Figs. 1, 2, 8, 10, and 11) is termed by me the stationar art of the apparatus, y D

Such guards also insure upward or downward movement of the mail-bag holder d (1", so as to carry the ring F over the receiving-hook G on the stationary part of the apparatus.

It is my intention to receive a part of the shock attending the transfer of bags to and from the stationary part of the apparatus on springs g g and O 0, Figs. 7, 8, and 9, or by springs G G and 0, Figs. 1 and 11, and utilize a part of such shock for turning the delivery and receiving arms or hook from the position adjacent to the moving car to a position presenting the mail-bag placed thereon convenient for removal therefrom.

m is the upper end of the post M and is rotatable in part m thereof.

m is a latch pivotally attached, as by pivot m to part m of post M and engaging with part m of such post to secure the part m to such part m.

m is the head of post M and is rotatably mounted on the upper end of part m of the post M.

m is a rotatable shaft mounted in thehead in, and m is a beveled gear-wheel secured on shaft m to turn therewith. i

m is a beveled gear secured in headm to turn therewith. Gears m and m intermeshz m is a crank on the shaft m and O is a spring connected to crank m and head m as by frame m m and projecting lug m.

The receiving hook G, hereinbefore referred to, is rotatably mounted in frameg g For convenience of reference spring g g and hook G are hereinafter referred to as the mailbagreceiving hook. Mail bagreceiving hook G also forms the upper part or portion of the mail-bag-holder mechanisms of the stationary part of the apparatus, the arm or hook G constituting the lower part or portion thereof.

The dotted lines showing the ring F in Fig. 7 when taken in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 10, and 11 well illustrate the manner of placing such ring in position.

g g are notches on mail-bag holders G G, respectively, which the ring E fits.

is a crank on bag-holder G, and g is a spring attached at one end to crank-arm g and at the other end to head m Spring g yieldingly holds mail-bag holder G in a vertical position, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, where the mail-bag is supported wholly by holder G in the position it assumes (by spring 9 and weight of bag E) when a mail-bag is placed thereon from a moving 5 car.

To provide for taking the shock of the trans to 9, inclusive, the lower member G of the mail-bag holder is secured to head m, as by pivots g 9 Fig. 8, while in the construction shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12 such lower member G is secured to sleeve 9 which is rota- 2o tably mounted on head M. In this modification the arms g g of upper part G of the mail-bag holder are pivotally attached to the sleeve g by pivot g 9 In this modification the end of the lower part G of the mail-bag holder is made reversible (see Figs. 10 and 12) and is lettered G G is a lug or projection on G, holding end G in a horizontal plane when ring E, Fig. 10, is therein. G G are springs mounted on rods G G yield 0 ingly holding sleeves g in the position illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 and returning such sleeves to such position immediately after the shock of the transfer of the mail-bag thereto from the moving car has been taken up by such springs. Springs G' G perform, therefore, in this modification the same function as springs g 9 Fig. 8, in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 of the drawings.

As the mail-bag is put on the receiving- 40 hookG from a moving car the shock of the transfer is received,as hereinbeforedescribed, by springs g g 0 and G G O in the respective constructions and by the turning of the head m to present themail-bag placed thereon in position for removal therefrom. To 'secure the turning of the head m one-half around on post M, the spring 0 is arranged to be brought under tension during the first quarter-turn of the head and be restored to its initial position during the last quarter-turn thereof. To prevent the return of the head m to its initial position in case it is not moved one-half of a turn (by the shock) in receivinga mail bag,l provide the stationary circular rack P, having teeth thereon (see Figs. 1, 2, and S) securely fastened to the upper part 0% of the post M, and the dog 19, pivotally mounted on the head to rotate therewith (see Fig. 8) and arranged to engage with the teeth of rack P.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatusfor automatically receiving and delivering mail-bags, a frame mounted in acar, a second frame yieldingly mounted on the first-named frame, means on the yieldingly-mounted frame for holding mail-bags,

means for moving the first-named frame to a car-door with the yieldingly-mounted frame extending beyond the car, a frame rotatably mounted adjacent to the track on which the car is moved, a mail-bag frame yieldingly mounted on the rotatably-mounted frame and guides on the rotatably-mounted frame, with which guides the end ofthe yieldingly-mounted frame in the car engages as the car passes such rotatably=mounted frame; substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for automatically receiving and delivering mail-bags, a frame rotatably mounted in a car, an additional frame on the rotatably-mounted frame, springs interposed between the frames, means on the additional frame for holding a mail-bag, and means on such additional frame for receiving a mail-bag,means for adjusting the additional frame on the rotatable frame, a post adjacent to the track on which the car is moved, an adjustable frame on the post, an additional frame on such adjustable frame, a spring interposed between such additional frame and the adj ustable frame on which it is mounted, means on the additional frame for holding a mail-bag and means on such additional frame for receiving a mail-bag; substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for automatically receiving and delivering mail-bags, a frame rotatably mounted in a car, a second frame on the rotatable frame, springs interposed between the frames, whereby the second-named frame is yieldingly mounted, means on the yieldingly-mounted frame for holding a mail-bag, and means on such frame for receiving a mail-bag, means for moving the yieldinglymounted frame on the rotatable frame, a frame rotatably mounted adjacent to the track on which the car is moved, an additional frame on the one adjacent to the track, and springs interposed between such additional frame and the frame on which it is mounted, means on the additional frame for holding a mail-bag and means on such additional frame for receiving a mail-bag; scribed.

4. In an apparatus for automatically receiving and delivering mail-bags,a frame pivotally mounted between the doors of the car, a second frame in such pivotally-mounted frame, means for moving the second-named frame in a plane at right angles to the plane in which the pivots of the first-named frame are placed, an additional frame yieldingly mounted on the second-named frame, a mailbag holder on the yieldingly-mounted frame, a mail receiving hook on the yieldinglymounted frame, means outside the car for receiving a mail-bag from the holder and means outside the car for placing a mail-bag on the receiving-hook; substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for automatically receiving and delivering mail-bags,a frame pivotally mounted between the doors of a car, a secsubstantially as deond frame in such pivotally-mounted frame,

means for moving the second-named frame in a plane at right angles to the plane in which the pivots of the first-named frame are placed, an additional frame yieldingly mounted on the second-named frame, a mailbag holder on the yieldingly-mounted frame, a mailbag-receiving hook on the yieldinglymounted frame means for locking the receiving-hook in a substantially horizontal plane, and means for automatically releasing such lockand turning the receiving-hook into a vertical plane on the deposit of a mail-bag on such receiving-hook, means outside of the car for receiving a mail-bag from the holder and means outside of the car for placing a mailbag on the receivinghook; substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for automatically receiving and delivering mail-bags, a frame rotatably mounted in a car between the doors of the car, means for locking the frame to prevent rotation thereof, a second frame on the rotatable frame, racks and cogs with a handle thereto between the frames, an additional frame on the second-named frame, springs interposed between the second-named and the additional frame, means on the additional frame for holding a mail-bag and means on such additional frame for receiving a mailbag, a frame rotatably mounted adjacent to the tracks on which the car is moved, an additional frame on the one adjacent to the tracks, and springs interposed between such additional frame and the frame on which it is mounted, means on the additional frame for holding a mail-bag and means on such additional frame for receivinga mail-bag; substantially as described.

- 7. In an apparatus for receiving and delivering mail-bags, a frame pivotally mounted in a car between the doors thereof, an additional frame, a frame yieldingly mounted in the additional frame on such pivotallymounted frame, a rotatably and longitudinally movable shaft in the yieldingly-mounted frame, a mail-bag-receiving hook on one end of the shaft, a spring connected to the shaft and to the frame in which the shaft is placed, such spring yieldingly holding the shaft with the receiving-hook thereon in a vertical plane, means for fastening the shaft with the receiving-hook in a substantially horizontal plane, and a connection between the shaft and the yielding frame whereby when the shaft is moved in a horizontal plane from its normal position the fastening of the shaft is loosened and the shaft automatically turned by the spring so that the receivinghook thereon is in a vertical plane; substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for receiving and deliveringmail-bags from a moving car, a frame pivotally mounted in the car, an additional frame, a frame yieldingly mounted in the additional frame, on such pivotally-mounted frame, a rotatably and longitudinally movable shaft in the yieldingly-mounted frame, a mail-bag-receiving hook on one end of such shaft, a spring connected to the shaft and to the frame in which the shaft is mounted, such spring yieldingly holding the shaft with the hook thereon in a vertical plane, a bar secured on the shaft, projections on the frame with which projections the bar on the shaft engages when the receiving-hook is in a substantially horizontal plane and the shaft is in its normal position and a connection attached at more than one point on one end thereof to the yieldingly-mounted frame and at the other end thereof connected to the shaft, whereby when the shaft is moved a given distance in the horizontal plane from its normal position a longitudinal movement is given thereto by such connection and the baris loosened from the engagement with the projections on the yieldingly-mounted frame; substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for receiving and delivering mail-bags, a frame yieldingly m ounted in the car, a rotatably and longitudinally movable shaft in the yieldinglymounted frame, a mail-bagreceiving hook on one end of the shaft, a spring connection between the shaft and the frame in which it is placed, such spring yieldingly holding the shaft so that the receiving-hook thereon is in a vertical plane, means for fastening the shaft so that the receiving-hook is in a substantially horizontal plane, a connection attached at more than one point on one end thereof to the yieldinglymounted frame and at the other end thereof connected to the shaft to move such shaft longitudinally when it is moved in the horizontal plane, and an additional shaftin the yieldingly-mounted frame, with which additional shaft-the spring is also connected, and a projection on such additional shaft, constituting with the receivinghook a mail-bag holder; substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for receiving and delivering mail-bags, a frame yieldingly mounted in the car from which a mail-bag is to be delivered and into which a mail-bag is to be received while the car is in motion, a rotatably and longitudinally movable shaft in the yieldingly-mounted frame, a mail-bag-receiving hook on one end of the shaft and a crank on the other end thereof, an additional shaft rotatably mounted on the yieldingly-mounted frame, a projection on one end of the lastnamed shaft to engage with the mail-bag to be delivered from the car and a crank. on the other end of such shaft, a spring connection between the shafts, such spring yieldingly holding the shaft with the receiving-hook thereon in position so that the hook is ina vertical plane, means for fastening the shaft with the receiving-hook thereon in a substantially horizontal plane, a connection attached at more than one place on one end thereof to the yieldingly-mounted frame and at the other IIO end thereof connected to the rotatable and longitudinally-movable shaft provided with the receiving-hook, to move such shaft longitudinally when it is moved in a horizontal plane; substantially as described.

11. In a mail-bag receiving and delivering apparatus, a post placed adjacent to a railway track, an adjustable head rotatably mounted on the post, means for fastening the rotatably-mounted head in a determined position, a horizontally-mounted rotatable shaft in the head,a beveled gear on the shaft,guides attached to the shaft, with which guides a corresponding part in the portion of the apparatus which is in a car engages in the operation of such apparatus, a beveled gear on such rotatably-mounted head and turning therewith such gear intermeshing with the beveled gear on the horizontallymounted shaft, a frame on the adjustable head with springs interposed between the frame and the head whereby the last-named frame is yieldingly mounted on the head, a mail-bagreceiving hook rotatably mounted in a horizontal plane in such yieldingly mounted frame, and a spring attached to the hook and the frame in which it is mounted; substantially as described.

12. In a mail-bag receiving and delivering apparatus,a post placed adjacent to the track, the upper end of such post adjustable relative to the lower end thereof, a head rotatably mounted on the adjustable member of the post, means for fastening the adjustable member of the post to the remaining member thereof in a determined position, and means for yieldingly holding the rotatably-mounted head in a determined position, a horizontallymounted rotatable shaft in the head, a beveled gear on the shaft, guides attached to the shaft and beveled gear, with which guides a corresponding part in the portion of the apparatus which is placed in a car engages in the operation of the apparatus, a beveled gear on the head turning therewith, such gear intermeshing with the beveled gear on the horizontally-mounted shaft, a frame on the head, with springs interposed between the frame and the head, whereby such frame is yieldingly mounted, a mail-bag-receiving hook rotatably mounted in such yieldinglymounted frame, and a spring g connecting the hook and the frame in which it is mounted to yieldingly hold the hook in a vertical plane, an arm on such head extending underneath the receiving-hook, a ring removably in a determined position, a frame yieldingly attached to the head, a mail-bag-receiving hook rotatably mounted in the yieldinglymounted head, such hook arranged to be turned to point toward a car approaching in either direction on the track, a spring yieldingly holding the receiving-hook in a vertical plane; substantially as described.

lei. In a mail-bag receiving and delivering apparatus, a post placed adjacent to a railroad-track a head rotatably mounted on the post, means for yieldingly holding the head in a determined position, a sleeve on the head, an arm pivotally attached to the sleeve to move in a vertical plane, a mail-bag-receiving hook rotatably mounted in the arm, a spring yieldingly holding such hook down on the top of a ring thereunder, a ring, an additional arm on the sleeve, and an additional pivotally-mounted hook on the additional arm, and means for maintaining such additional hook in a horizontal plane when the ring is between it and the first-named hook; substantially as described.

15. In a mail-bag receiving and delivering apparatus, a post placed adjacent to the railroad-track, a head rotatably mounted on the post, means for yieldingly holding the head in a determined position, a beveled gear on the head, a sleeve on the head, springs connecting the head and the sleeve, an arm attached to the sleeve by a pivot to move in a vertical plane, and a mail-bag-receiving hook rotatably attached to the pivoted arm, an ad ditional projecting arm on the sleeve and an additional hook rotatably mounted in such additional arm, means for retaining the lastnamed hook in a horizontal plane when a ring is between the hooks, a horizontally-mounted rotatable shaft on the head, a beveled gear on the horizontal shaft intermeshing with the first-named beveled gear, guides on the horizontal shaft and beveled gear, a crank-on the horizontal shaft, and a spring connected to the crank and to the rotatable head; sub- 

